MoP^® Foundation Exam Simulator

According to AXELOS, the following is the detailed syllabus for the exam:

• Overview
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to an Overview of portfolio management. Specifically to recall:
    • The definitions of portfolio and portfolio management.
    • The portfolio management model and the relationship between the principles, cycles, practices and relevant techniques.
    • The names of the portfolio definition practices.
    • The names of the portfolio delivery practices.
  • Understand the terms and concepts relevant to an overview of portfolio management. Specifically to identify:
    • The scope of portfolios and portfolio management and the differences from projects/project management and programmes/programme management.
    • The local circumstances that will affect how the MoP principles and practices will be adapted and how cost effective approaches can be adopted.
    • The objectives and benefits of portfolio management.
• Implement, sustain and measure
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to implementing, sustaining and measuring portfolio management. Specifically to recall:
    • The three broad approaches to implementing portfolio management.
    • The benefits of assessing the impact of portfolio management.
  • Understand how to implement, sustain and measure portfolio management. Specifically to identify:
    • When each approach to implementation is most relevant, the advantages of planned approaches to implementation, and the first seven steps (and their benefits) in a staged implementation of portfolio management.
    • The factors to consider in sustaining progress.
    • Approaches to assessing portfolio management maturity and the impact of portfolio management including examples of performance metrics that can be employed.
• Strategic and organizational context
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to the relationships between portfolio management and other corporate functions and activities with a role in delivering strategic objectives. Specifically to recall:
    • The 6 key functions/activities that portfolio management needs to coordinate with to achieve strategic objectives.
  • Understand the key aspects of the relationships between the portfolio and other corporate functions and activities with a role in delivering strategic objectives. Specifically to identify:
    • How portfolio management and business as usual (BAU) coordinate to deliver strategic objectives.
    • How portfolio management and strategic planning coordinate to deliver strategic objectives.
    • How portfolio management and budgeting and resource allocation coordinate to deliver strategic objectives.
    • How portfolio management and programme and project management coordinate to deliver strategic objectives.
    • How portfolio management and performance management coordinate to deliver strategic objectives.
    • How portfolio management supports effective corporate governance.
• Portfolio management principles
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to the principles upon which efficient and effective approaches to portfolio management are built. Specifically to recall:
    • The names of the five principles upon which effective portfolio management is based.
  • Understand the principles upon which efficient and effective approaches to portfolio management are built. Specifically to identify:
    • The keys to success in relation to principle 1: Senior management commitment and specifically, the ways in which:
      • Senior management engagement supports effective portfolio management.
      • Senior managers should support portfolio management.
    • The keys to success in relation to principle 2: Governance alignment, and issues to consider in an effective portfolio governance structure.
    • The keys to success in relation to principle 3: Strategy alignment, and specifically:
      • Approaches and techniques to align programmes and projects with organizational strategy.
      • Techniques that facilitate strategic alignment even where strategic measures are not clearly defined.
    • The keys to success in relation to principle 4: Portfolio Office, and specifically:
      • The services it provides.
      • How it differs from a programme or project office.
    • The keys to success in relation to principle 5: An energized change culture and specifically:
      • The elements of an energized change culture.
      • The energy states.
      • Sources of organizational energy.
• Portfolio definition cycle
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to the portfolio definition cycle. Specifically to recall the purpose(s) of:
    • The portfolio definition cycle and its key output.
    • The portfolio definition practices:
      • Understand
      • Categorize
      • Prioritize
      • Balance
      • Plan
  • Understand the terms and concepts relating to the portfolio definition cycle. Specifically to identify:
    • The results of a well functioning portfolio definition cycle and the implications where this is not the case.
    • The techniques, key features and uses, of:
      • Three point estimating and reference class forecasting.
      • Driver-based strategic contribution analysis.
      • Multi-criteria analysis.
      • Decision conferencing.
      • Clear line of sight planning.
    • What is involved and the keys to success in the…
      • understand practice
      • categorize practice
      • prioritize practice
      • balance practice
      • plan practice
• Portfolio delivery cycle
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to the portfolio delivery cycle. Specifically to recall the purpose(s) of:
    • The portfolio delivery cycle.
    • The portfolio delivery practices:
      • Management control
      • Benefits management
      • Financial management
      • Risk management
      • Stakeholder engagement
      • Organizational governance
      • Resource management
  • Understand the terms and concepts relating to the portfolio delivery cycle. Specifically to identify:
    • The results of a well functioning portfolio delivery cycle and the implications where this is not the case.
    • The techniques of:
      • Management by exception
      • One version of the truth
      • Staged release of funding
      • Clear line of sight reporting
      • Champion-challenger model
    • What is involved, the main elements, and keys to success of the…
      • management control practice
      • benefits management practice
      • financial management practice
      • risk management practice
      • stakeholder engagement practice
      • organizational governance practice
      • resource management practice
    • The challenges and solutions to effective dependency management.
• Roles and documentation
  • Know facts, terms and concepts relating to the main portfolio management roles and key documentation. Specifically to recall:
    • The purposes of the main portfolio management roles identified in MoP:
      • Portfolio Direction Group/Investment Committee
      • Portfolio Progress Group/Change Delivery Committee
      • Business Change Director/Portfolio Director
      • Portfolio Manager
      • Portfolio Benefits Manager
    • The purposes of the main portfolio management documentation:
      • Portfolio Management Framework
      • Portfolio Benefits Management Framework
      • Portfolio Strategy
      • Portfolio Delivery Plan
      • Portfolio Benefits Realization Plan
      • Portfolio Financial Plan
      • Portfolio Resource Schedule
      • Portfolio Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Plan
      • Portfolio Dashboard Report
  • Understand the definitions and concepts relevant to the main portfolio management roles and key documentation. Specifically to identify:
    • The responsibilities of the main portfolio roles identified in MoP:
      • Portfolio Direction Group/Investment Committee
      • Portfolio Progress Group/Change Delivery Committee
      • Business Change Director/Portfolio Director
      • Portfolio Manager
      • Portfolio Benefits Manager
    • The recommended contents of the main portfolio management documentation:
      • Portfolio Management Framework
      • Portfolio Benefits Management Framework
      • Portfolio Strategy
      • Portfolio Delivery Plan
      • Portfolio Benefits Realization Plan
      • Portfolio Financial Plan
      • Portfolio Resource Schedule
      • Portfolio Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Plan
      • Portfolio Dashboard Report